For many who fall in love with the Beautiful Game and set their hearts on building a career in the sport, the journey is rarely a straight path. One American from St. Louis pursued that dream and took the path of collegiate soccer, honing his craft while earning a prestigious university degree.
Yanks Abroad first discovered this Ivy League midfielder, Taner Dogan, when he signed his first professional contract with Dundalk FC of the League of Ireland Premier Division back in 2020. We caught up with him again recently at his home in the Welsh town of Bala, where he now wears the black and white of Bala Town FC, who compete in the Welsh top flight, the Cymru Premier.
Taner, tell us about your soccer journey and how you got to where you are today.
Right after I graduated Harvard, I signed for Dundalk FC (League of Ireland Premier Division) and was sent on loan to Athlone Town in my first year there.
I earned a contract extension with Dundalk at the end of that season. Towards the end of my second season, I ended up going on loan to Forward Madison in USL League One.
My girlfriend is from England and during my time at Harvard, I spent some time coming over to the UK. I had an opportunity to train with Millwall FC Under 21s, during some of my summer and spring breaks from college. I did not have a UK visa at that time and I was always planning to return to Harvard and finish my degree, but I really enjoyed experiencing English football at a very well run Championship club.
After my Dundalk contract finished, I decided to pursue playing in the UK. It took quite a while to get a UK visa, but I ultimately was able to obtain a partner visa. I was again able to train with Millwall to stay sharp in this period of waiting for my visa to be approved. I am very grateful to the club and coaching staff at Millwall, especially U21’s coaches Kevin Nugent and Paul Robinson, for supporting me in that period.
I have mainly played for clubs within the English non-league system over the past couple years, with Hastings United being my most recent one.
During this January transfer window I had an opportunity to come to Bala Town, my current club, which is in the Welsh Premier League. I signed here on deadline day and have played a few games already. We’re in the second half of the season which finishes at the end of April.
How did the Wales opportunity come about?
I knew a player at the club and he had good things to say about the team. I came up in January, played a friendly match, and signed after that.
What are the differences between England and Wales?
It’s not a big distance in terms of geography as it’s just over the border from England. The Cymru Premier is a top flight league in European football, which naturally provides a good platform in terms of exposure.The top teams will be able to play in European competitions such as the Champions League, Europa League, and Conference League.
Many of the games here are televised on S4C (Welsh TV channel) and most of the commentary will be in the Welsh language. It’s really cool to experience Welsh culture in general as I wasn’t exposed to much of it in England. I was surprised at how many people actually use the Welsh language in daily life!
How are you treated as an American in Wales?
Everyone at the club has been super welcoming and I am treated very well. Some of the other players on the team also have experience playing abroad, so there’s quite a mix of backgrounds.
What skills that you picked up in college have helped you along the way in your career thus far?
On and off the pitch I really enjoyed my time at Harvard. College life in general provides so many great experiences. The independence of living away from home develops you as a person, and you form some really close relationships with people there.
I have played the majority of my professional career abroad but Harvard has a very international student body; my girlfriend is from England and we met there. She is a top level professional squash player and has won a Commonwealth games gold medal!
Football-wise, the infrastructures of college teams are very professional. Facilities are amazing! From a developmental standpoint, there has historically been a mixed perception of college soccer. I am a big proponent of the college game and think it’s a great platform for players to go on to have professional careers while also earning a degree. The standard is very good and is continuing to rise.
Did you ever feel pressure, especially from family, to go after a more traditional career?
If you look at my team mates at Harvard, there have been a couple professionals, but the majority go into more traditional career paths. Many will go into finance, consulting – things that are typically associated with a Harvard graduate. But for me, I was (and still am) very passionate about football. There was never a doubt in my mind that I wanted a career in the game and to go as far as I can. I hopefully have many more years ahead of me as a player, but I eventually want to get into coaching. Being in the game at a high level is something I always want to be involved in.
From the beginning of your career in Ireland up to now, how has your mentality changed over the years?
It sounds cliché, but being level headed, learning how to deal with adversity, and performing your best no matter the circumstance is really important.
A lot of players get wrapped up in the emotional roller-coaster of being a professional footballer. You give yourself the best chance to succeed if you stay can mentally stay consistent at all times
How do you deal with the uncertainty in your career? Finding a team? Injures? How does that affect you mentally?
You can take a lot of value out of focusing on things you can control. You 100 percent want to have long terms goals, but focusing on the here and now is the most important factor in achieving them. Staying present and focusing on the controllables will also provide an overall greater sense of enjoyment. That’s not just in football; it could be in anything.
What are your shorter-term goals, before venturing into a coaching career?
I want to play at the highest level I can and as you know, things can be uncertain in football. You don’t know what can be around the corner. Things can change fast. Right now I want to finish this season in the best way possible from a team and personal perspective. We’re in a relegation battle so all focus is on the next game in order to give ourselves the best chance of staying up.
With all that you have learned over the years, what advice would you give to 18 year old Taner?
It’s really about the mental side of the game and staying the course. Things are not always going to go your way and some things are naturally out of your control. The ups and downs are inevitable. Players who can deal with them, stay level headed and persistent through tough times, often go the farthest.
There is a quote by Arsene Wenger:
“The stamina in the motivation is more important than the intensity of the motivation.”
I thought I understood this going into it, but you won’t really know what it means until you go through your career and get kicked in the teeth a couple of times.
The Welsh league currently has 12 teams but will expand to 16 next season. Historically, the top club has been The New Saints (TNS), who made it to the league phase of the Conference League this season.
The League continues over the weekend with Bala Town hitting the road to take on Flint Town United. Bala is currently in 11th place, while their opponents hold down the 9th spot.